Tim Ernst is a former high school All-American at DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis Missouri. He played Club soccer for Scott Gallagher from 1982 to 1987. In 1991 he graduated from the University of Evansville where he was the captain of his team that was ranked number one in the country and lost in the final four to Rutgers when Alexi Lalas played there. He was also a member of the US U-16 National team and also a member of the National B team in 1991. He played 11 years professional soccer with the Detroit Rockers from 1991 to 2001.